Adoption Event - Saturday, March 20

We will hold an adoption promotion event, featuring some of our adorable cats and dogs at PetSmart on Saturday, March 20th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please come see these cuties currently in our foster program, who are looking for forever homes. For more information regarding the adoption event or about volunteering, please contact our adoption captain at 575-650-6746 or call our office at 575-523-8020.

Fighting Animal Cruelty Conference March 15-16

Mark your calendar! Monday, March 15 and Tuesday, March 16 - click here for printable flyer.

Catherine Wolfe, Attorney and Author of "Get The Edge in Fighting Animal Cruelty Cases," will present a two-day workshop sponsored by the Humane Society of Southern New Mexico.

Learn how to conduct smart investigations and effective presentation of the evidence; which evidence is most important; how to operate with maximum efficiency to handle more cases, and do so successfully.

Brochure with registration form will be mailed out after the first of the year, with detailed information on cost, location and accommodations. For more information or to get on the mailing list for the brochure, please contact Maryln Zahler, Vice President, Humane Society of Southern New Mexico, coolwolftwo@yahoo.com; 575-647-1477.

HSSNM Members & Friends Meeting- February 20th

HSSNM held a membership meeting February 20th from 3 PM to 5 PM at Encantada Park Clubhouse for interested members and the public. The HSSNM Board of Directors was introduced and each gave reports involving their responsibilities for the past year and outlined some needs, goals and activities of the upcoming year along with the HSSNM financial status. This was an informative session and a great review along with discussions for focusing on HSSNM goals for the future.

Highlight of the meeting was the comments by Animal Services Center of Mesilla Valley Board of Directors Chair and City Councilor Miguel Silva. Silva discussed his anticipated actions and expectations for the Center and suggested how outside organizations could be great resources for work needed at the shelter. Silva drew a lot of comparison of the shelter with his experience with the Solid Waste Authority and how that entity has been developed over quite long period and is considered a successful operation at this juncture.

The tongue in cheek by Silva was he "talked trash" a lot but he did feel he brought a lot to the table as the new ASCMV Board Chair with this previous experience. Silva re-iterated how it was a difficult transition for the new shelter director to take over such a entrenched problem and she was still getting her feet on the ground.

Silva graciously fielded questions and concerns from the members, stayed for the presentations of the HSSNM Board which probably gave him a very good picture of the organizations efforts and anticipated acivities for the coming year. He gave generously of his time to speak personally with members after the meeting officially closed. He did agree that many of the questions and concerns might be addressed in a town meeting forum with a panel discussion format and participant questions and stated he was willing to seek that sort of venue with the Board.

It is felt this was a good update for everybody and some beneficial communication was accomplished. The HSSNM Board looks forward to the coming year with its challenges and accomplishments and asks for our membership to get involved to assist with this effort.

Submitted by Frank Bryce

"Second Chance at Love" Pet Adoption Event, February 12-13

The “Second Chance at Love” adoption event held at PetSmart on February 13th & 14th was a tremendous success with five cats and two dogs finding love and a family with adoption into permanent homes! We are thrilled with the success of this adoption promotion, especially for little Dot, a senior kitty who found a forever home that weekend along with Max, a Pinscher mix.

Our thanks to all who volunteered at the event, helping with set-up and showcasing/featuring the animals and help with exercise and potty breaks for the dogs, and other jobs. Adoption events like this would not be possible or successful without your help!

Our thanks to all the people who dropped by the event to see the animals and to chat with us. We are always delighted and pleased to have so many people stop by to see our wonderful animals, to ask for help with their own pets, or just to chat with our volunteers. We greatly appreciate your interest in helping rescue animals and the work/programs of HSSNM!

To date, pet adoptions have continued as a result of the “Second Chance at Love” event. Our beloved Betty Boop, a chow mix who was in foster care with HSSNM several months was recently adopted! We are soooooo happy for Miss Betty and for several kittens who’ve been adopted since the event.

January Adoption Event - January 16

The New Year’s adoption promo event held at PetSmart on January 16th resulted in four adoptions! Three small breed dogs were adopted including a miniature Schnauzer rescued from Hobbs. A beautiful long haired male kitten in foster care with HSSNM found a forever home and was adopted by a woman who previously adopted an adult cat from us in 2008. So this lucky kitten has a feline friend to live with as well as his human family!

Our thanks to all the people who played a role in this event, including the fosters who care for the animals while they wait for homes and the volunteers affiliated with the cat adoption program, and all the volunteers who worked the event. Our thanks also to everyone who invited friends & family to the event. All of you, in various roles, made the adoption promo a huge success!

Pet Adoption Event December 12th

At the monthly adoption event on December 12, we had one gray adult cat adopted, Juniper. Then on Monday, December 14, the two black and white kittens, Snaps (left) and Sylvester, were adopted. It was kind of a fall out of the weekend event.

It was a good event with many people stopping by and offering support for our ongoing efforts on behalf of the many cats and dogs in this area.